DHL SINGAPORE FACT SHEET

MALAYSIA

S I N G A P O R EAng Mo Kio

Serangoon

Nee Soon

WoodlandsSembawang

Chao Chu Kang

TuasQueenstown

Major City

KEYCapital City

Singapore

Country Profile

Population 5.6 million

Area 697 sq km

Currency 1 Singapore dollar (SGD) = 100 cent

GDP US$ 339 billion (2013 est.)

Languages Mandarin (official), English (official), Hokkien, Tamil (official), Cantonese, Teochew, Malay (official), other Chinese dialects, other

Ethnic Groups Chinese 74.2%, Malay 13.3%, Indian 9.2%, other 3.3%

Source: CIA World Factbook

DHL FACTS

Number of Service Centres: 4

DHL Delivery Zone: 7

Vehicle Fleet: 253

OVERVIEW

Singapore is the fourth-largest global financial centre with one of the world’s busiest ports – a key hub for the Asia-Pacific region. Due to strong pro-business economic and trade policies, strong rule of law (including IP protection) and low taxation, the World Bank has again ranked Singapore as the best place to do business for 2014.

Singapore’s economy is one of the world’s most open with over 30 free trade partners. While this does expose the city-state to global downturns, Singapore experienced 4.1 per cent GDP growth in 2013 and the economy is expected to grow by 3 to 4 per cent annually over the medium term.

Singapore’s infrastructure is highly advanced and new projects are underway in the railway, airport and shipment port sector. The city-state’s economy is continuing to diversify with a new focus on developing the creative sector.

Singapore is the EU’s largest trade and investment partner in Southeast Asia, with more than €52 billion bilateral trade in goods in 2012. Almost 1,000 EU companies have offices in Singapore and use it as a hub to serve the region.

Singapore is an especially attractive business partner for Irish companies: English remains the business language and in February 2014, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland organised a four-day trade and investment mission to Singapore and Malaysia. This mission resulted in contracts worth €25 million and new business partnerships across the financial services, ICT and education sectors.

Trade relations between Singapore and Ireland are expected to further deepen once Singapore’s Free Trade Agreement with the EU is ratified in 2015.

Sources: The Economist, Enterprise Ireland, European Commission, GOV.UK, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Enterprise Ireland and Irish Exporters Association

DHL Singapore Fact Sheet 2

Source: DHL, CIA World Factbook

Ireland to Singapore Transit Times

The times provided for dutiable shipments are based on the time expected for Customs in Singapore to clear the shipment. This is contingent upon the value of the shipment.

Singapore (all destinations) Non-Dutiable: 4 days Dutiable: 4 days

TRADE INFORMATION ESSENTIAL CUSTOMS INFORMATION

Singapore’s General Sales Tax rate is based on 7% of commercial invoice value for all shipments with a Cost Insurance Freight (CIF) value exceeding SGD 400. Import duty only applies to intoxicating liqueurs, tobacco products, motor vehicles and petroleum products. Excise duty applies on excisable goods, i.e. alcohol and tobacco.

Document shipments weighing over 30 kg and printed materials with a commercial value or meant for mass distribution must be shipped as goods.

Certain items will be subject to inspection by and/or require approval from the following Singapore government bodies/agencies: Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA), Health Sciences Authority (HSA), Infocomm Development Authority (IDA), Media Development Authority (MDA)

Prohibited Items

The list below is in addition to DHL’s standard list of prohibited items.

• Antiques

• Asbestos

• Chewing gum, except for medical purposes

• Chewing tobacco

• Cigarette lighters if pistol / revolver shaped

• Dangerous goods, hazardous or combustible materials

• Electronic cigarettes

• Endangered animals / plants

• Firearms, or parts of

• Firecrackers

• Furs

• Ivory

• Jewellery

• Precious metals & stones, including rough diamonds

• Rhinoceros horn

Exports from Singapore

US$ 442.9 billion (2013 est.)

Export commodities Machinery and equipment (including electronics and telecommunications), pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, refined petroleum products, food and beverages.

Top Export Destinations USA, Malaysia, Australia, India, Germany, China, Czech Republic, Hong Kong, UK, Indonesia.

Imports into Singapore

US$ 380.3 billion (2013 est.)

Import commodities Machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs, consumer goods.

Top Import Origins USA, Germany, China, Australia, UK, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong, New Zealand.

DUTY FREE ALLOWANCE SGD 400

For an estimate of landed costs (duties, taxes and other import fees) for shipments going to Singapore, use the free DHL Express Trade Automation Services (TAS) tool. tas.dhl.com TAS also provides information on regulation compliance and trade documentation.

DHL Singapore Fact Sheet 3

Restricted Items

Alcoholic beveragesDutiable regardless of CIF. Invoice must state bottles per shipment, alcohol strength, brand name, bottle volume. Wine: specify if sparkling or still.

Animal skinsIf unprocessed: provide Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) certificate from country of origin.

Audio cassette tapes, hardback or paperback books for non-commercial use, journals, magazines, newspapers & periodicals Provide title list. May be inspected by Singapore’s MDA.

Cash letters (NI), cheques (NI): blank/cancelled/cashier, credit cards (NI) & credit card blanks (NI) Not acceptable if activated and/or in bearer form.

Diplomatic mail Can be shipped as documents regardless of weight.

Cologne and perfume, soil samples & telecommunications equipment Approval from Singapore’s AVA and proper packaging required.

Communications equipment including phones & modems, radar equipment including transmitters & receivers Subject to approval from Singapore’s IDA. Mass distribution: importer to provide import licence.

Cosmetics, drugs: prescription, including oral dental chewing gums & drugs: non-prescription Receiver to obtain approval/import license from Singapore’s HSA. Private individuals: provide doctor’s prescription for contents. Drugs/medicines: invoice must state name, brand, quantity per bottle, weight of each capsule, reason for import & product composition.

Electronic gamesReceiver to confirm the item is on Singapores MDA approved list of games.

Films, including entertainment films: 8mm, 16mm & 35mm, video cassettes, DVDs & laser discs Submit title list to Singapore’s MDA for approval.

Films: promotional / training, including industrial advertising and promotion materials for internal company useReceiver to provide declaration to Singapore’s MDA.

Animal products & foodstuffs, including grain samplesReceiver to obtain import licence/approval from Singapore’s AVA.

Medical samplesFor personal consumption: receiver to provide doctor’s prescription. For retail purposes: receiver to obtain import licence from Singapore’s Drug Administration Department.

Oil products, bunker oil samples (for analysis), coal & firewood Flashpoint must be above 60.5°C. Contact DHL Customer Services before shipping.

PerishablesReceiver to obtain import permit from relevant government authorities prior to shipping. Contact DHL Customer Services before shipping.

Plants & plant products including seeds & cotton seedsShipper to provide Phytosanitary Certificate.

TobaccoDutiable regardless of CIF but not controlled. Invoice must state number of packages in shipment or weight per shipment, brand name and number of sticks per package.

Toy guns / pistols / revolversImport controlled by Singapore’s State Police, Arms & Explosives Licensing Division. State ‘TOY GUNS’ on Waybill and commercial invoice. Provide document proof by manufacturer confirming the product is a toy and not a replica of a real firearm.

X-ray machines Destination importer or receiver to obtain licenses from Singapore’s HSA.

For military equipment and strategic goods & technology (including ‘dual-use’ goods with both civilian and sensitive military applications) please contact DHL Customer Services before shipping.

Valid from: 08/2014

For more information

If you need support or advice on trading with Singapore, help is available.

Contact the DHL Express team on 1890 725 725 (+353 1 870 0790 if you’re calling from outside of the Republic of Ireland).

Visit www.dhlguide.ie for international trade information

Chambers Ireland or your local Chamber of Commerce www.chambers.ie

Enterprise Ireland www.enterprise-ireland.com

Irish Exporters Association www.irishexporters.ie